Kevin Kwan may have been born in Singapore and writes about the luxuriant lifestyles of the city-state’s rich and famous in his best-selling “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy, but he spent much of his youth and young adulthood in Houston.

He received a creative-writing degree from University of Houston-Clear Lake before moving to New York City. But he’s still a fairly frequent visitor to Texas, and with the debut of the heavily anticipated film version of “Crazy Rich Asians” putting Kwan back in the headlines, we asked him to tell us about his three favorite novels, even though he said, “There are so many books I love, it’s hard to choose.”

“Custom of the Country”

by Edith Wharton

“It’s a brilliant book that looks at society. It’s effective in a way that’s still so relevant today, more than 100 years after she wrote it.”

“To Kill a Mockingbird”

by Harper Lee

“I’m not ashamed to say I love ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ For me, it’s one of the most phenomenal coming-of-age tales. To me, it should be read when you’re older, not younger.”

“The Joy Luck Club”

by Amy Tan

“One of the most exquisite books ever written. It really was part of my personal awakening into the re-acceptance of my Asian-ness and having pride in my roots that for awhile I had sublimated trying to fit into Clear Lake, Texas.”

Cary Darling joined the Houston Chronicle in 2017 where he writes about arts, entertainment and pop culture, with an emphasis on film and media. Originally from Los Angeles and a graduate of Loyola Marymount University, he has been a features reporter or editor at the Orange County Register, Miami Herald, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In addition, he has freelanced for a number of publications including the Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News.